Friends Serve God in India

Christopher Munive prays with several villagers in India following an evening revival meeting. Munive, accompanied by family and friends, spent two weeks presenting health messages and revival meetings, resulting in 64 baptism.

 

Christopher Munive prays with several villagers in India following an evening revival meeting. Munive, accompanied by family and friends, spent two weeks presenting health messages and revival meetings, resulting in 64 baptism.

 

Leading up to members from the Chattanooga, Tenn., First Church embarking on a mission trip to India in 2025, Rusty Williams, pastor, along with his family and family friend Christopher Munive, set out on a journey of their own.

“I saw the great need in what has been called the 10/40 window, that region of the world that is largely unreached by the Gospel,” said Williams. “I want to reach these people who desperately need the gospel.” Williams also strongly supports giving young people the opportunity to experience going all-out for God and to share the Gospel. This trip provided an opportunity for the family team to be immersed in service.

The purpose of the outreach was to minister and serve the people in six villages in India. Evangelistic style meetings were conducted at two sites, and all members of Williams’ team participated, either in preaching, giving health talks, or telling children’s stories. A video on the life of Christ was presented in the native Telegu language.

“The whole undertaking was a blessing for the young people, as well as those they were there to serve,” said Williams. “The children’s eyes [were] opened to the great spiritual and physical need in that part of the world.” He says the team experienced first-hand how others live on so little, and reflected on how blessed they themselves were.

A memorable footnote to the mission experience was that after the revival series, which resulted in 64 baptisms, the group took a trip to Chennai to visit historical landmark St. Thomas Mount to see the place where Thomas, the disciple of Jesus, suffered a martyr’s death.

Expressing his belief in the purpose of these types of mission experiences, Williams shared, “It will give the young people a perspective on service to God and their church, as well as help to shape their life’s choices.”

When the team of volunteers from Chattanooga First Church embark on their trip, they will spend two weeks serving people and villages in a part of the world that is largely unreached by the Gospel.

Georgia-Cumberland | January 2025